Year on the Web
Year on the Web
“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedara asked, “what do you think of the elections...?”
“Why?” Percy, Bindu’s father asked and said, “the government and the President will not doubt call it a vishishta jayagrahanayak’’ for the ruling party....”
“Do you agree?” Bindu wanted to know.
“No, I don’t think so,” Percy said.
“Why do you say so thaaththa?”
“Well, the government has not got the sixty two per cent it got at the last elections...”
“But, thaaththa, it is only expected that any government will lose some of its popularity after some time...”
“But the ruling party has lost some important urban areas. The cities don’t seem to like them...”
“But the rural areas and other areas like the South have endorsed the government convincingly...”
“But don’t forget that in the South, the JVP has made remarkable progress, taking more than ten per cent of the vote in some areas...”
“That should be a welcome sign...” Bindu said.
“Of course it is; that will convince them to remain in non-violent politics...”
“What do you think will happen now, thaaththa?”
“Well the government is likely to manipulate the statistics to say it won a landslide; the opposition will say the government should resign because it has obtained a lesser percentage of votes than in 1994....”
“And what are the lessons of this election, thaaththa?”
“A most important lesson comes from the estate sector where the UNP won some areas, showing that Mr. T is no longer essential for political survival....”
“What about the allegations of thuggery and intimidation, thaaththa?”
“There is no smoke without fire, Bindu, but those who are complaining today were no saints when they wielded power...”
“But, thaaththa how will this election help the country?”
“I don’t know whether it will, Bindu”
“Why?”
“This is an elections with no winners, Bindu, only losers...”
“Why do you say that?”
“The ruling party has certainly lost a share of its popularly. The UNP has been told by the voters that they have a long way to go and even Mr T, who wins at every elections seems to have lost this time...”
“But what about us, the people?”
“Ah, Bindu, whichever party wins, we lose but we must also not forget some people who made a difference at this election....”
“Who?”
“First, those, like Nalanda who lost their lives because of this election; And then, we must also not forget JRJ, who is also no longer with us....”
“Why thaaththa?”
“Why Bindu, if not for JR’s PR system the UNP would be reduced to a few seats in all the local bodies and his system prevents any party getting a landslide...”
“And thaaththa, do you think Satellite will now go for a referendum on the devolution package....”
“Judging from the election results, she shouldn’t, but then, she always does things she shouldn’t be doing...”
Bindu reluctantly agreed.
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